Chillicothe city clerk with long family ties to job resigns

CHILLICOTHE — Since 1923, a woman with the last name of Crabel has occupied the city clerk’s position in Chillicothe. That streak ends Monday.

Sharon Crabel, who had been city clerk for 25 years, offered her letter of resignation to aldermen and the mayor at their regular meeting Monday night. Her departure is effective at the end of the work day March 31.

In her letter dated March 24, Crabel wrote that she “must, with deep regret,” resign her positions as the elected clerk and the appointed city collector.

“Serving and interacting with our citizens, the City Council and staff has been a great privilege,” she wrote in her letter. “In every instance, I have sought to bring to this valuable office a commitment to provide efficient, accurate professional service.”

Her resignation was not on the council’s agenda, but Mayor Doug Crew said afterward she had indicated over the past several days that she planned to resign.

“I was disappointed. Sharon is an excellent and valuable city resource,” Crew said Wednesday. “I asked if she would consider some transitional role and she said she felt she needed to step aside and we have respected that fact.”

Crabel, who was last elected in March 2013, had another three years left in her term. She has not publicly discussed her reasons for resigning and could not be reached for comment on Wednesday. She will continue to serve as the Chillicothe Township clerk.

Crew said he would appoint an interim city clerk who would have to be approved by the City Council. It was not immediately known if the appointed clerk would serve until the next municipal election in spring, 2015, or until two year’s later at the expiration of Crabel’s term.

Crabel received the designation of master municipal clerk through the International Institute of Municipal Clerks, an honor of national distinction. She shared her knowledge of the office at seminars and conferences with other city and village clerks locally, regionally and across the state, Crew said.

“She has served this city well,” Crew said.

Crabel followed her mother-in-law, Ilion Wait Crabel, into office in 1989. Ilion Crabel, who died in 1991, served as city clerk for 66 years and as clerk of the township for 65 years.

In 2002, Sharon Crabel remarked in a Journal Star story about her receiving the master clerk designation about following the legacy left by Ilion Crabel.

“I would like to think that I (have left my mark), she said. “But I could never live up to my mother-in-law. She was a lady ahead of her time.”

Scott Hilyard can be reached at 686-3244 or by email at shilyard@pjstar.com. Follow @scotthilyard on Twitter. GateHouse Media Illinois contributed to this report.